Japan Airlines and American Airlines announced they have begun joint sales for Japan-to-North America flights. The two carriers will commence their previously announced transpacific joint business on April 1 ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 12).
IER, a leading player in check-in and RFID solutions, announced a partnership with AirIT to distribute the IER Common Use Self-Service solution to US airports. The two companies will also collaborate to allow AirIT to distribute a Common Use Passenger Processing solution in the US.
Norwegian Air Shuttle launched Row 44 onboard high-speed broadband on Tuesday. “This is a product that no other airline in Europe is currently offering, which gives us a huge competitive advantage,” Norwegian Director of IT and Business Development Hans-Petter Aanby said.
Hainan Airlines said it expects to report 2010 net income of more than CNY2.01 billion ($306 million), a sixfold increase over a CNY335 million net profit reported for 2009 (ATW Daily News, April 26, 2010).
SAS Group incurred a net loss of SEK2.22 billion ($335.4 million) for 2010, narrowed from a SEK2.95 billion deficit in 2009, but swung to a SEK47 million fourth-quarter profit, turned around from a SEK1.3 billion net loss in the prior-year period.
US FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Tuesday that "the failure to enact long-term, comprehensive" FAA reauthorization legislation, stalled in Congress since 2007, "has had troubling impacts."
WestJet posted 2010 net income of C$136.7 million ($138 million), up 39.3% over a C$98.2 million profit in 2009, on a 14.5% jump in revenue to C$2.61 billion.
Goodrich Corp. signed a five-year nacelle Prime Solutions services agreement with Royal Jordanian Airlines. The contract covers maintenance and support of nacelles and thrust reversers for the airline's fleet of V2500-powered Airbus A320s, CF34-10E powered Embraer 195s and CFM56-5C- powered Airbus A340s.
United Continental Holdings, parent of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, reported strong unit revenue growth in January, with combined consolidated PRASM up an estimated 10.5% -11.5% compared to the pro forma results from January 2010 when the carriers were independent, while mainline PRASM climbed an estimated 11.5%-12.5% on a similar basis.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh conceded that the 787 program's global outsourcing backfired. Addressing students and faculty at Seattle University, he offered candid commentary on the Dreamliner's production problems, according to The Seattle Times.
Etihad reached a codeshare agreement with Air New Zealand for flights across the Tasman, giving EY passengers the option to connect to cities including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The agreement complements EY's alliance with Virgin Blue, which became effective in 2010 ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 4).
WestJet, in a bold challenge to Air Canada in the country's lucrative "eastern triangle" business travel market, announced late Monday it will offer 10 flights each business day between Toronto and Montreal and nine flights each business day between Toronto and Ottawa, beginning May 2.
Travelport announced that UK travel agencies "for the first time" are able to book pre-paid seating on British Airways flights through the GDS channel. Previously this extra was only bookable via ba.com.
TripAdvisor acquires EveryTrail Hipmunk raises $4.2 million in new funding Amadeus in dispute with Kazakhstan’s Air Astana Virgin America selects SabreSonic Sabre licenses security content from E-Travel Technologies Report casts Amadeus as ‘clear market leader’ in passenger services systems World news briefing
Amadeus was obliged to restore distribution services to Air Astana after a Madrid court granted the Kazakh carrier injunctive relief on Feb. 3. Amadeus canceled Air Astana’s agreement on Jan. 21 after 15 days’ notice, alleging a breach of the terms of the agreement. Air Astana unveiled a “Competitive Booking Source Program” in July, slated for implementation on Jan. 1, and began renegotiating its GDS contracts with Abacus, Travelport, Sirena and Amadeus.
AAR Distribution was named exclusive distributor in North America and Asia for ADS/Transicoil, an aftermarket manufacturer of custom avionics, LCD displays and motion control products for the commercial aerospace market.
Cobham Aviation Services of Australia exercised its options to buy two BAe 146s it had been leasing from BAE Systems; Aerolineas Star Peru acquired one BAe 146-200 from BAE; and Titan Airways acquired one Avro RJ100. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft sold one J41 to Easy Fly of Columbia, and subleased one J41 from Eastern Airways to Sky Express of Heraklion, Crete.
Panasonic Avionics announced it signed a letter of intent with COMAC to provide communications systems for the C919 aircraft. Under the LOI, both parties will begin working on a custom communications system, though final terms are still being negotiated. Panasonic has partnered with Chengdu-based China Electronics Technology Avionics for the project.
UPS said Monday it is extending its ExpressFreight air cargo service to Israel and Slovakia in order "to serve expanding hubs for high-tech, industrial and automotive companies." The delivery giant's premium air cargo offering includes one- to three-business day door-to-door service, customs clearance and an on-time guarantee.
United Continental Holdings said on Monday said it would cut up to 500 jobs at the Houston headquarters of Continental Airlines, which merged in October with United Airlines ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 4, 2010). The cuts would be management and salaried positions. UCH has about 6,000 such jobs and more than 80,000 employees worldwide, Reuters reported. Information was contained in a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission, according to press reports.
TUI Travel, the tourism conglomerate that includes TUIfly, Thomson, Arkefly, Corsairfly and Jet4you, among others, reported a net loss of £99 million ($159.4 million) for the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010, improved from a loss of £124 million in the year-earlier period.
Delta Air Lines will introduce an “Economy Comfort” section on all its long-haul international flights this summer as part of its previously announced plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2013.
